Set to launch later this year, Microsoft recently confirmed that existing Windows Phone 7 will not be compatible with the Windows Phone 8 upgrade putting more onus on the first devices to come pre-installed with the latest iteration of the industry acclaimed tile-based operating system.

Speaking during a recent analysts meeting, Elop has suggested that due to the company’s “close relationship” with Microsoft, Nokia will potentially benefit from some beneficial treatment “unlike what anyone else has,”

Although far from confirmed, Elop also pointed to the fact that to date only Nokia branded handsets have currently been used to demo the upcoming Windows Phone 8 platform, suggesting the first devices to market could come from the Lumia 800 maker.

With Microsoft remaining cagey around an exact Windows Phone 8 UK release date, recent reports have suggested the operating system will be made available to manufacturers in September ahead of a pre-Christmas November handset launch.

Are you looking forward to the upcoming Windows Phone 8 release date? Would you rather a Nokia, Samsung or HTC WP8 filled device? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.